10’s Lisa Wilkinson was reportedly warned of the legal implications for Brittany Higgins’ trial if she mentioned Higgins in her Logies acceptance speech.
The Australian has reported that ACT Supreme Court heard that before Wilkinson gave her Logies acceptance speech, she was pre-warned by ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold that in the “event of publicity,” there could be legal implications and delays in Higgins’ trial.
Interestingly, this is exactly what happened after Wilkinson’s Logie speech. The accused Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steve Whybrow took action after Wilkinson’s Logies speech. He has asked the court to delay court proceedings arguing that Wilkinson’s acceptance speech has been so highly publicised it will impact Lehremann’s ability to have a fair trial and the court has now agreed to delay the trial.
In court yesterday, Justice McCallum read a note from Drumgold that read: “Lisa read the first line and (was) stopped by the director, who said we are not speech editors.
“We have no power to approve or prohibit any public comment. That is the role of the court. (We) can advise, however, that defence can reinstitute a stay application in the event of publicity.”
“What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated in the discussion on Sunday and Monday.
“The implicit premise of (Wilkinson’s speech) is to celebrate the truthfulness of the story she exposed.”
Twitter has weighed in.
Such serious consequences from @Lisa_Wilkinson Logies speech. If only she’d stuck to silly stories like the paparazzi who stalked her in Chapel Street. Hope she now backs away now and lets people seek justice they (both parties) deserve.
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) June 21, 2022
So the man who allegedly raped Brittany Higgins is trying to have a further adjournment claiming Lisa Wilkinson referred to him at logies. Will this poor woman ever get her day in court and potential justice? Enough. Just do it.
— Ayelbee (@ayelbee1) June 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/corybernardi/status/1539110038840942593
Rape trial delayed due to a bloody Logies speech by Lisa Wilkinson. https://t.co/nRrtwomMM7
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) June 21, 2022
If the Higgins rape trial is delayed due Lisa Wilkinson’s shameless self promoting at the Logies, is she in contempt?
— Hank Meyer 🇦🇺 (@HankMeyerNAPP) June 21, 2022
A spokesperson for 10 told B&T, “Network 10 acknowledges the ruling by Chief Justice McCallum and fully supports Lisa Wilkinson. Both Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson take their legal obligations very seriously, including in the preparation and delivery of her speech given at the Logies event. In light of the continuing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
